


PR 2929 

.B7 
Copy 1 



Supposed Caricature of the 

Droeshout 

Portrait of Shakespeare 





SUPPOSED CAKICATUKE OF THE DKOESHOUT PORTKAIT OF 

SHAKESPEAKE. 



Notes on Elizabethan Poets. — No. i. 



Supposed Caricature of the Droeshout 



Portrait of Shakespeare 



With Fac-Simile of the Rare Print 

Taken from a very scarce Tract 

of an Elizabethan Poet 



By Basil Brown 



)/V &\ <~\S^r^ 



Printed for private circulation. 



_-/ 



New York 
1911. 



TT 



Copyright, 1911, by Basil Brown 



Limited to one hundred and fifty copies each 
of which this is No. / 



(fba ^lC < b 



£ CI.A280983 







'Though I deserve not, I desire 
The laurel wreath, the poet's hire. 



I. 



Tims sang quaint John Taylor, the Water-poet, who 
was Sailor, Sculler, Traveler, and Reporter, in the golden 
age of "Eliza and our James;" who for fifty years 
poured forth a remarkable collection of prose and verse, 
which is very little known outside the circle of those who 
delight in Elizabethan literature; and it may be truly 
said no other English author gives us more exact or 
curious information respecting the customs, buildings, 
rivers, inns, and manners of the people of that age than 
John Taylor. Yet in his voluminous works the magic 
name of Shakespeare is only once mentioned — namely, in 
his "Praise of Hemp-seed"* where he tells us: 

"Spencer and Shakespeare did in Art excell." Could 
this have been written to refute what Ben Johnson had 
told Drummond of Horthornden in 1618 when he said: 
"Shakespeare wanted Art"?** 



*Tl\e Praise of Hempseed, with the voyage of Mr. Roger Bird and 
the Writer hereof, in a Boat of brown paper from London to Quin- 
borough in Kent. As also a Farewell to the Matchless deceased Mr. 
Thomas Coryat. concluding with the commendations of the famous River 
of Thames. Printed at London for H. Gosson, &c, 1620-23. 

**Ben Jonsons Conversations with William Drummond, p. 20. 
Printed by the Shakespeare Society 1842. 

1 



Although Taylor only mentions the name of our 
greatest poet once, lie alludes to several of the Shake- 
spearean plays. In 1630 in his " Epistle prefixed to Sir 
Gregory Nonsense,"* he mentions "The Midsummer 
Night's Dream," and in his "Three Weeks, three Bales, 
and three Houres Observations and Travel from London 
to Hamburg, 1617," where he gives a "true picture of a 
most unmatc'hiable Hangman, ' ' he compares him to ' ' our 
English Sir John Falstafr. " Again he is supposed to 
allude to the "Winter's Tale," in the following lines 
taken from his "Travels from Prague in Bohemia 
(Folio, 1630)— "The truth is, that I did chiefly write it, 
because I am of much acquaintance, and cannot pass the 
streets but I am continually stayed by one or other, to 
know what news ; so that sometimes I am four hours 
before I go the length of two pairs of butts, where such 
nonsense or senseless questions are propounded to me, 
that calls many seeming wise men's wisdom to question, 
drawing aside the curtains of their understandings, and 
laying their ignorance wide open. First John Easy 
takes me, and holds me fast by the fist half an hour ; and 
will needs torture some news out of me from Spinola, 
whom I was never near by five hundred miles, for he is 
in the Palatinate Country and I was in Bohemia. I am 
no sooner eased of him, but Gregory Gander-goose, an 
alderman of Gotham, catches me by the goll, demanding 
if Bohemia, be a great town, and whether there be any 
meat in it, and whether the last fleet of ships be arrived 
there** His mouth being stopped, a third examines me 



*8ir Gregory Nonsense His \aces from no place. Written on pur- 
pose, with much study, to no end, plentifully stored with want of wit, 
learning-, Iudgment, Rime and Reason, and may seeme very fitly for the 
vnderstanding of Nobody. This is the worke of the Authors, without 
borrowing or stealing from others. Printed at London, by N. O. 1622. 

**Italics are mine. 



boldly what news from Vienna! where the Emperor's 
army is, and what the Duke of Bavaria doth? . . . 
and such a tempest of inquisitions that almost chokes 
my imtience in pieces. To ease myself of all which, I 
was enforced' to set pen to paper and let this poor pam- 
phlet (my herald or nuntius) travel and talk, while I take 
my ease with silence." 

Bobert Greene in his "Pandosta" places Bohemia 
near the sea, and Shakespeare in the "Winter's Tale" 
followed Greene. 

Eecently an Italian writer has demonstrated that in 
ancient times one could go all the way from the Sea to 
Bohemia in a boat, so that we are glad to believe Shake- 
speare did not blunder after all. It seems to me John 
Taylor was the forerunner of our newspaper reporter. 
To read some of his queer titles reminds one of the head- 
lines in a metropolitan daily— although the modern news- 
paper can scarcely outdo his descriptive titles. A few 
specimens are given here for the reader's amusement: 

"0/ Alterations — 

Alterations strange 
Of various Signes 
Heere are compos 7/ 
A few Poetick Lines. 
Heere you may finde, when 
You this Book have read, 
The Cro icne's transform' d 
Into the Poet's Head. 

Read well; he Merry and Wise." 

Written by John Taylor, Poeta Aquatica. Printed at 
London, 1651. 



Epigrammes written on put pose to be read with a 
Proviso, that they may be Vnder stood by the Reader, 
Being Ninety in Number. Beside two new made Satyres 
that attend them. By John Taylor at the Signe of the 
Poet's Head in Phoenix Alley, neare the middle of Long 
Aker, or Convent Garden. Printed in the Yeare 1651. 

Nonsense upon sence, or Sence upon Nonsence, chuse 
you whether, either, or neither, &c. Written upon white 
paper, in a broivne study, Beginning at the End and 
Written by John Taylor, at the Signe of the Poore Poet's 
Head in Phoenix Alley, neare the Middle of Long Aker 
in Convent Garden. 

Mad Verse, Sad Verse, Glad Verse, and Bad Verse, 
Cut out, and Slenderly stitcht together, by John Taylor. 
Who bids the Reader edther to like or dislike them, to 
commend them, or Command them. 

John Taylor knew and was known to many of the 
greatest men of his age. He tells ns : 

11 Seven times at Sea I served Elizabeth, 
"And 2 kings forty-five years, until death 
"Of both my Royal Masters quite bereft me." 

When only sixteen years old, he was at the taking of 
Cadiz nnder the 'brilliant but most unfortunate Bobert 
Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Elizabeth's last Favorite, 
and one of her last victims. Although there is little 
worthy the name of poetry in Taylor's works, Ben John- 
son told William Drummond that Jamesl. said: "Sir 
Philip Sidney was no poet, neither did he see ever any 
verses in England (compared) to the Scullers." 

And yet Shakespeare had only then been dead two 
years! After such praise from the lips of this Scotch 
Solomon, John Taylor cannot be blamed by posterity for 



calling himself the "King's Water-Poet," or for wear- 
ing the badge of the Koyal Arms. That Taylor knew 
Shakespeare of Stratford personally, I have little doubt. 
He knew mo-st of the dramatists and poets of his time. 
In his "Penniless Pilgrimage" taken to Scotland in 1618 
he tells us of his meeting with Ben Jonson as follows: 
"Now the day before I came from Edinburgh, I went to 
Leith, where I found my long approved, and assured 
good friend, Master Benjamin Jonson; at one Master 
Stuart's house; I thank him for his great kindness 
toward me : for at my taking leave of him, he gave me 
a piece of gold of two and twenty shillings, to drink his 
health in England. And withal willed me to remember 
his kind commendations to all his friends. So with a 
friendly farewell, I left him as well as I hope never to 
see him in a worse estate: for he is amongst noblemen 
and gentlemen that know his true worth and their own 
honours where with much respective love he is worthilly 
entertained." Taylor makes us laugh even when he is 
most serious. Is it not reasonable to infer from this that 
Taylor could not have known his "long approved and 
assured' good friend," Ben Jonson, without having 
known Shakespeare also, whom Jonson "loved this side 
idolatry"? I only relate plain matters of fact and leave 
every reader to make his own conclusions. I believe the 
Poet Shakespeare was the friend and patron of Jonson, 
and in my monograph on Ben Jonson I have thrown new 
light upon their friendship. John Taylor knew Thomas 
Dekker, Thomas Nash, and George Wither, intimately. 
Dekker was one of those poor dramatists who now and 
then received a pittance from the manager, Henslowe. 
He was often in prison — sometimes for debt, and some- 
times for too openly expressing his opinion of those in 
authority. He wrote the following lines: 



TO MY FKIEND JOHN TAYLOR. 

Roiv on (good Water-man) and looke back still, 

(Thus as thou dost) upon the Muses Hill, 

To guide thee in thy course: Thy Boate's spheare 

Where thine Vrania houes diuinely- clear e. 

Well has than pli'd and (with thy learned Oare) 

Cut through a Riuer, to a nobler shore, 

Then euer any landed-at. Thy saile, 

(Made all of clowdes) swels with a prosperous gale. 

Some say, there is a Ferriman of Hell, 

The Ferriman of Heau'n, I now knoiv well, 

And that's thy selfe, transporting soules to Blisse. 

VRANIA sits at Helme and Pilot is; 

For Thames, thou hast the laetea via found, 

Be thou with haies (as that with stars is) crownd. 

— Thomas Dekker.* 

And Taylor said in 1644 of the poet, George Wither : 
"He was a man that I have these thirty-five years loved 
and respected, because I thought him simply honest." 
We know Ben Jonson also loved; to be called honest. I 
have not space enough in this essay to name half the 
literary men whom Taylor knew. But the Water-Poet 
could not tolerate a word against his royal master, and 
went for Wither in a pamphlet entitled : 

Aqua-Mvsae, Or, Cacafogo Cacadaemon, Captain George 
Wither With Wrung in the Withers. Being a short 
lashing Satyre, wherein the Juggling Rebell is Com- 
pendiously finely firked and Jerked, for his late 
Railing Pamphlet against the King and State, called 
Campo-Musae. Printed in the fourth Yeare of the 
Grand Rebellion. 



*Works of John Taylor, the Water-Poet, comprised in the Folio 
Edition of 1630. Printed for the Spenser Society, 1869, page 8. 

6 



Taylor also brought out a pamphlet ou Nash, as 
follows : 

Crop-Eare Curried, or Tom Nash his Grhost, declaring 
the pruining of Prinnes two last Parracidieall Pam- 
phlets, &c. With a strange Prophecy, reported to be 
Merlins, or Nims'hags the Grymno sophist, &c. Printed 
in the yeare 1644. 

In 1612 Taylor amused all literary London by 
burlesqueing Tom Coryat's Travels or ''Crudities," 
which were at that time very popular. Coryat* was so 
"nipt, galled and bitten" that he succeeded in having 
Taylor's pamphlet burned. Still Taylor continued for 
years after to make jests at the expense of poor Coryat,** 
to the great amusement of the wits of that age. 

That : 

"Opinion that great fool makes fools of all' 

no one in his time knew better than John Taylor. How- 
ever, when he could steer clear of authority without the 
danger of losing his ears or his head, he managed to tell 
the truth. His caution is well expressed in his "Epi- 
grame 89 " : 

"My thoughts are free, I wish my tongue were so. 
Then would I freely speake what I do thinke; 
But yet my tongue too hold shall not go, 
It is more safe at injuries to icinke." 

*Master Thomas Coryat's Commendation to his Friends in Eng- 
land ; from Agra the Capitoll of the Great Mogul. F. 1630. 

**Odcomu , s Complaint; or Coryat's funerall Epicedium, or Death 
Song, upon his late reported drowning. Dedicated to the Miror of the 
Time, Don Archibald Armstrong. F. 1630. 



And in Epigranie 22 : 

"To speake all that I know* tvould show small wit, 
To speake more than I know were worse than it." 

We know Shakespeare himself was "made tongue-tied 
by authority. ' ' But what were the injuries so much com- 
plained of by the Water-poet! I have said he had a 
grudge against the King's Players and that he com- 
plained to Sir Francis Bacon and other great men about 
it but we will let Taylor speak of his suit in his own 
words, on page 11. 

In 1623 the First Folio appeared and was dedicated 
to the "Most Noble and Incomparable Paire of Brethren, 
William Earle of Pembroke, &c, Lord Chamberlaine to 
the Kings moist Excellent Majesty. And Philip Earle of 
Montgomery, &c. Gentleman of his Majesty's Bed- 
chamber. Both Knights of the most Noble Order of the 
Garter and our Singular good Lords." Seven years 
afterwards Taylor published his own works in folio, 
dedicating them to the same two nohle brothers, but 
added the World to his dedication, wherein he ridiculed 
common opinion in these scornful terms : 

"World, I have two requests to make of Thee, which, 
if thou grant me, I will never thank thee: The first is 
good clothes (for those bear a monstrous sway), because 
I have occasion to speake with great men, and without 
good clothes (like a golden sheath to a leaden blade) 
there is no admittance. Secondly, that thou wilt keepe 
close from my Headers all prejudicate opinions, or let 
them be persuaded that this following Booke is not of. 
my writing; for opinion doth worke much in such cases; 



*D'Avenant said : — 

"Since knowledge is but sorrow's spy, 
"It is not safe to know." 



There were Verses once much esteed for their goodness, 
because it was thought that a learned Italian Poet named 
Sanazarus made them; but afterwards, being found to 
be of a poore man's writing, they lost their estimation . 
An Antham was once sung before the Duchesse of Urbin 
and but slightly regarded; but after, being knowne that 
Jaquin de pris made it, it was extolled. So for my poore 
inventions of my poorer self, were it nameless, I am 
persuaded that it ivould passe more blameless, however 
World to thee I send it, etc., etc/'* These extracts from 
his works plainly indicate Taylor's contempt for the 
World's — or vulgar opinion. Gonld it be he was ridicul- 
ing some great book which had been foisted upon the 
world under the name of another? Else why should he 
say to the readers, "Let them be persuaded that this 
following Booke is not of my writing, for opinion doth 
worke much in such a case," . . . unless he had 
some other work in mind? I am only seeking for Truth, 
and am not rash enough to assert anything nor do I 
think my conjecture will seem unreasonable to an un- 
prejudiced mind. It would seem that John Taylor was 
chary of offending those in authority, for he lived in an 
age when it was treason to think aloud, still he often 
risked his life by telling the truth. In his "The Liar, 
or a contradiction to those who in the titles of their 
bookes affirmed them to be true, when they were false" 
he says: "Although mine are all true, yet I term them 
false." Still harping on false title-pages, which indi- 
cates he had some book in mind. The King's Players 
had wittingly or unwittingly offended him; and Taylor 
confesses his attempt in writing against the Players was 
"Venturous and full of danger;" but in his determina- 



*Italics are mine. 



tion to publish his grievance to the world he says : "But 
fall back, fall edge, come what can come, I am resolved, 
and without fear or flattery, thus I beginne. " Then he 
blames the Players for the multitude of idle watermen, 
because they (the Players) drew three or four thousand 
people daily away from the Thames, "that were used 
to spend their monies by water" . . . "So that at 
times a poore man with five or six children, doth give 
good 'attendance to his labour all day, and at night hath 
not gotten a groat to relieve himself, his wife and fam- 
ily." Taylor really loved plays and players, but he had 
the interest of his poor fellow-watermen at heart (whose 
hero he was), and petitioned his Majesty's "Commission- 
ers for suits"* to aid them. And he says he "found them 
generally affected to the suit we prosecuted." All this 
annoyed the King's Players so much that they were up 
in arms and exhibited a petition against the watermen 
in which they very wittingly said that the watermen 
were "unreasonable, and that we might as justly remove 
the Exchange, the walks in Pauls or Moorefields to the 
Bankside for our profits, as to confine them," etc. All 
this happened three years before Shakespeare's death, 
and no doubt the reader will be glad to see the honest 
Waterman's complaint as he left it to us in his own 
words. So here it is in full : 



* Among them Sir Francis Bacon and Sir Julius Caesar. 

10 



II. 



THE TEVE CAVSE OF THE WATERMENS SUIT 

concerning Players, and the reasons that 

their Playing on London side is their 

extreame hindrances. 

With a Relation how farre that suit was proceeded 
in, and the occasions that it was not effected. 

The occasions that hath moued me to write this Pam- 
phlet are many, and forcible, and the Attempts in writing- 
it aduenturous and full of danger, for as on the one side 
I doubt not but with truth to stop the mouthes of Ignor- 
ance and Mai lice that haue and doe daily scandalize mee, 
(and witball I know I shall purchase a generall thankes 
from all honest men of my Company) so I am assured 
to game the hatred of some that loue mee well, and I 
affect them no worse, only for my plaine truth and dis- 
charging of my conscience : But fall back, fall edge, 
come what can come, I am resolued, and without feare 
or flattery, thus I beginne. 

In the month of I a unary last 1613* there was a motion 
made by some of the better sort of the company of 
Watermen, that it were necessary for the reliefe of such 
a decayed multitude to petition to his Majesty, that the 
Players might not haue a play4iouse in London or in 
Middlesex, within foure miles of the City on that side 
of the Thames. Now this request may seeme harsh and 
not well to bee disgested by the Players and their Apen- 
dixes. But the reasons that mou'd vs vnto it, being 
charitably considered, makes the suite not only seeme 



*The Globe theatre, situated on the Bank-side, was burned down 
in 1613. 

11 



reasonable, but past seeming most necessary to be sued 
for, and tollerable to bee granted. 

Our petition 'being written to purpose aforesaid, I 
was selected by my company to deliuer it to his Majesty 
and follow the businesse, which I did with that care and 
integrity, that I am assured none can iustly taxe me with 
the contrary. I did ride twice to Theobalds,* once to 
Newmarket, and twice to Roystone, before I could get a 
reference vpon my petition. I had to beare my charge, of 
my company first and last, seuen pound two shillings, 
which horsehire, horse meat, and mans meat brought to a 
consumption ; besides I wrote seuerall petitions to most of 
the Eight Honourable Lords of his Maiesties Priury 
Counsel], and: I found them all compassionately affected 
to the necessity of our cause. 

First, I did briefly declare part of the seruices that 
Watermen had done in Queene Elizabeth's raigne, of 
famous memory, in the voyage to Portingale, with the 
Right Honor able and neuer to be forgotten Earle of 
Essex; then after thai, how it pleased God (in that great 
deliuerance in the yeere 1588**) to make Watermen good 
seruiceable instruments, with their losse of liues and 
limbs to defend their Prince and Country. Moreouer, 
many of them serued with Sir Francis Drake, Sir, Iohn 
Haivhins, Sir Martin Frobusher, and others: besides in 
Gales action, the land voyage, in Ireland, in the Low 
cuntryes, and in the narrow Seas they haue beene, (as 
in duty they are bound) at continuall command, iso that 
euery Summer 1500. or 2000. of them were imployed to 
the places aforesaid, hauing but nine shillings foure 
pence the month a peece for their pay, and yet were they 

*Built by Burleigh and given by his son, Robert Cecil, to James I. 
**Year of the Armada. 

12 



able then to let themselues out like men, with shift of 
Apparell, linnen and wollen, and forbear e charging of 
their Prince for their pay sometimes sixe months, nine 
months, twelue months, sometimes more, for then there 
were so few Watermen and the one halfe of them being 
at Sea, those that staid at home had as much worke as they 
would doe. 

Afterwards the Players began to play on the Bank- 
side and leaue playing in London and Middlesex (for the 
most part then there went such great concourse of peo- 
ple by water, that the smal number of watermen remain- 
ing at home were not able to carry them, by reason of 
the Court, the Tearmes, the Players, and other imploy- 
ments, so that we were inforced and encouraged (hoping 
that this golden stirring world would haue lasted euer) 
to taken and entertaine men and boyes : which boyes are 
growne men, and keepers of houses, many of them being 
ouer-charged with families of Wife and Children, so that 
the number of Water-men, and those that Hue and are 
maintained by them, and by the onely labour of the Oare 
and the Scull, betwixt the Bridge and Windsor and 
Grauesend, cannot be fewer then forty thousand; the 
cause of the greater halfe of which multitude, hath beene 
the Players playing on the Banke-side, for I haue knowne 
three Companies besides the Beare-bayting, at once 
there; to wit, the Globe, the Rose, and the Swan. And 
it is an infallible truth, that had they neuer played there 
it had beene better for Water-men by the one halfe of 
their liuing, for the Company is encreased more then 
halfe by their meanes of playing there in former times. 

And now it hath pleased God in this peaceful time, 
that there is no imployment at the sea, as it hath beene 
accustomed, so that all those great numbers of men 
remaines at home; and the Players haue all (except the 

13 



Kings men) left their vsuall residency on the Banke-side, 
and doe play in Middlesex farre remote from the 
Thames, so that euery day in the weeke they doe draw 
vnto them three or fonre thousand people, that were vsed 
to spend their monies by water, (to the reliefe of so many 
thousands of poore people, which by Players former 
playing on the Banke-side) are encreased, so that oft- 
times a poore man that hath nine or sixe children, doth 
giue good attendance to his labour all day, and at night 
(perhaps) hath not gotten a Groat to relieue himself e, his 
wife and family. 

This was the effect and scope of our petition, though 
here I haue declared it more at large, to which his 
Maiesty graciously granted me a reference to his com- 
missioners for suites, who then were the Eight honour- 
able Sir Iuliiis Caesar, Sir Thomas Par ray, Knights, the 
Right Worshipful Sir Francis Bacon then the Kings 
Atturny general!, Sir Henry Moimtague his Maiesties 
Sergant at Law, Sir Walter Cope, Master George Cal- 
uert, one of the Clarkes of his Maiesties priury Counsell, 
and Baron Southerton, one of the Barons of the Kings 
Exchequer : these Honorable and Worshipfull persons 
I did oft solicite, by petitions, by friends, and by mine 
owne industrious importunity, so that in the end when 
our cause was heard, wee found them generally affected 
to the suit we prosecuted. 

His Maiesties Players did exhibit a petition against 
vs, in which they said!, that our suit was vnreasonable, 
and that we might as iustly remoue the Exchange, the 
walkes in Pauls, or Moorefields to the Bank-side for our 
profits as to confine them ; but our extremities and cause 
being iudiciously pondered by the Honorable and Wor- 
shipfull Commissioners, Sir Francis Bacon very worthily 
said that so farre forth as the Publike weale was to be 

14 



regarded before pastimes, or a seruiceable decaying mul- 
titude before a liandfull of particular men, or profit 
before pleasure, so far was our suite to be preferred 
before theirs. Whereupon the Players did appeale to 
the Lord Chamber! aine, which was then the Earle of 
Sommerset* who stood well affected to vs, hauving beene 
moued before in the businesse by Master Samuel Gold- 
smith an especiall friend of mine, and a Gentleman that 
my selfe and all the rest of my poore company in general! 
are generally beholden, and deepely ingaged vnto ; for 
of his owne free will to his cost and charge, wee must 
with thankfulnesse acknowledge he hath beene and is 
continually our worthy friend. Who seeing the wants of 
such numbers of vs, hee hath often neglected his owne 
vrgent and profitable affaires, spending his time and 
coyn in any honest occasion that might profit vs. Thus 
much I thought good to insert in the way of thankful- 
nesse, because of all vices, ingratitude is most hateful!. 
The Commissioners did appoint mee to come on the 
next day that they sate again, and that then the Players 
and wee should know their determinations concerning 
our businesses; but before the day came, Sir Walter 
Cope died, and Sir Iulius Caesar** being chief e Commis- 
sioner was made master of the Rolls, by which means 
the Commission was dissolu'd, and we neuer yet had fur- 
ther [hearing. Thus farre did I proceed in this thank- 
lesse suite ; and because it was not effected, some of my 
company partly through malice or ignorance, or both, 
haue reported that I tooke bribes of the Players to let 
the suite fall, and that to that purpose I had a supper 



*Can\ the King's Favorite, who was implicated in the poisoning of 
Overbury. 

**Sir Julius Caesar for his third wife married a young widow, who 
was a niece of Sir Francis Bacon's. 

15 



with them at the Oardina.il s Hat on the Banke-side ; and 
that if I had dealt wel with my Company, and done as I 
might hane done, then all had heene as they would hane 
had it. 

These and more the like such pritty aspersions, the 
outcast rubbish of my Company hath very liberally, 
vnmannerly and ingratefully bestowed vpon mee, 
whereby my 'credit hath been blemished, the good opinion 
which many held of me lost, my name abused, and I a 
common reproach, a scorne, a bye-word, and bayting- 
stocke to the poysonous teeth of enuy and slander. 

But I doubt not but what is before said will satisne 
any well disposed or honest mind, and for the rest (if 
there bee any such) <as I found them ignorant knaues, 
so I leaue them vnthankfull villanes. And I will regard 
such Vipers, and their slander so little, that their malice 
shall not make mee giue oner to doe seruice to my Com- 
pany, by any honest lawfull meanes; my Trade (vnder 
Grod) is my ibest friend, and though it bee poore, I am 
sure the calling is honest, therefore I will be an assistant 
in this suite, or any other that may be auailable vnto it ; 
and howsoeuer we are slightly esteem 'd by some Griddy- 
beaded Corkbrains or Mushrom Painted Puckfoysts* ; 
yet the estate of this Kingdome knowes, that many of the 
meanest Scullers that Rowes on the Thames, was, is, or 
shall be, if occasion iserue, at command to doe their 
Prince and Country more seruice, then any of the Play- 
ers shall be ioyned vnto. 

I must confesse that there are many rude vnciuill 
Fellowes in our company, and I would some Doctor 
would purge the Thames of them : the reason whereof is, 
that all men being Vicious, hy consequence most Vice 



*Not very complimentary to some of the Players! 

1G 



must be in the greatest Companies, but Water-men are 
the greatest Company, therefore most abues must raigne 
amongst Water-men; yet (not to excuse them in any 
degree) let a man but consider other trades and facul- 
ties of higher account, and I am sure they will come short 
in honesty perhaps not of Water-men, but of the honest 
Vocation of a Water-man. 

For if hee vse labour no otherwise then he ought, 
which is to carry the Kings Leidge people carefully, and 
to land them safely, to take his due thankfully without 
murmuring or doing iniury, then I say, that that Water- 
man may feed vpon the labours of his hands with a bet- 
ter Conscience, and sleepe with a quieter spirit then 
many of our furre-gownd mony-mongers that are ac- 
counted 1 good common-wealths men: but if a rayling 
knaue doe chance to abuse his Fare, either in words or 
deeds, (as indeed wee haue too many such) what reason 
is it, that for the wrong that one, two, or more doth com- 
mit, that all the rest of the whole Company shal be scan- 
dalized for it. If a Mercer, a Grocer, a Gold-smith, or 
any other of the best Trades, be a Traytor, a Thiefe, or 
a Debosht Drunkard, it were impudent ignorance for the 
Vices of a few, that all the rest of the function should 
bee reproch'd: I will make no odious comparisons, but 
I am perswaded that there are as many honest men of 
our company as of any other, such as doe make a con- 
science of what they doe : such as wil not wrong others 
though it might be gainfull to themselues : Such who are 
both Religious and Charitable, and whose greatest care 
is to liue in Gods feare, that they may die in his fauour : 
And for those that are vnruly, ignorant, and brutish, 
there is no company hath sharper Lawes, or more 
seuerely executed, as the Counters can testifie once a 
weeke: Little ease can witnesse often: The whip, and the 



Whipper, like a roaring diuell doth many times affirme 
the naked truth, and banishment from the Kiuer of 
Thames foreuer, now and then cuts off a bad member. 
Besides, Fines and Forfeitures are laid vpon the heads 
of petty offenders, that few or none escapes vnpunished 
if their faults be knowne : If the gout be in a mans toe, 
all the body is grived; if a finger ake, the rest of the 
members hath a share in the paine ; but if many of Ioynts 
and members be putrifide, then the heart cannot chuse 
but be craz'd with care, if not wounded; so is it with our 
Company, that the Abuses and Vices of the worst infe- 
riour members as Graeelesse, Godlesse, Eeprobates, are 
sometimes like a Plague, infectious to their betters, and 
a daily jieart-griefe to all honest men, who are scandal- 
ized by their damnable demeanors. But all they doe or 
can doe, is nothing to the defaming of the Company, for 
it were very absurd because one in his drinks hath kild 
a man, to impute the fault to the wine or the drinks that 
he dranke, when the blame lies in the drunkard that 
abus'd Gods good Creatures in taking too much; so a 
Watermans trade is honest necessary, and not to be 
wanted, howsoeuer it is abus'd by misgouern'd vnciuill 
companions. If a Water-man would be false in his trade, 
I muse what falsehood he could vse, hee hath no false 
weights or measures to curtoll a mans passage, but he 
will land a man for his money, and not bate him an inch 
of the place he is appointed: His shop is not darke like 
a Woolen-Drapers on purpose, because the buyer shall 
not see the coursnesse of the Cloath, or the falsenesse of 
the Colour : no his worke and ware is seene and knowne, 
and hee vtters it with the sweat of his browes ; the worst 
fault is, that like a Lawyer he will take more then his fee 
(if any body will giue it him) very thankfully, his bare 
fare he will take willingly (vpon necessity) but lesse then 

is 



his fare, or many times nothing, me thinkes goes against 
stomacke. 

I bane seene a Vsnrer (who hath beene fit onely for 
the graue these senen yeeres being more than halfe rot- 
ten with the Gowt, the Cough, and the Murre) who hath 
lost bis conscience to get money, and perhaps, win dam- 
nation, who is not able to goe by land, and yet will not 
pay his Fare by water, but like the picture of misery, 
will either beg his passage of some seruing-man, or bar- 
gaine with a Waterman to giue him two pence for six 
penniworth of labour, such I haue seene, and such there 
are too many, who if they were once buried, the wheel e 
of Time would turne, and what they got vniustly by 
extortion, oppression, and grinding the faces of the 
poore, what they haue vncharitably pinch 'd in keeping 
backe the labourers byre, their Sons or heires perhaps 
will consume in Law who shall possesse most of that ill 
gotten goods, or else Drinke it, Dice it, Drab it, Eeuel 
and ruffle it, till all is gone; and as their fathers before 
them made others to rot in prison, so their prodigal 1 
Sonnes are holed in some loathsome Iayle, being lowzy. 
lodging on the boords, and liue vpon the boxe and the 
Almes-basket. 

Moreouer, too many there are that passe the bounds 
of liberality, and spend most prodigally on a Whore, on 
(thediuell of India) Tobacco*; on the superfluous Quarts 
and Pintes of the blood of Bacchus (Sack and Claret) 
Spanish and French, on vnlawfull Games, and in a word, 
on a thousand vanities, they will carelesly and beyond 
expectation cast away their cash: but vpon a Water-man, 
that hath rowed till his heart ake, and sweats till bee 
hath not a dry thread about him, the Gentlemens bounty 



*TMs slur on Tobacco would have pleased King James, who wrote a 
book against it. 

10 



is asleepe, and hee will pay him by the Statute, or if hee 
giue him two pence more, he hath done a huge worke 
beyond the merrit of Suttons Hospital 1. 

I my selfe haue met with a Roaring boy (or one of 
the cursed crew) that hath had nothing about him but a 
Sattin outside to couer his knauery, and that none of his 
owne neither, witnesse his Mercer and his Taylor : Yet 
this Gallant must be shipp'd in a paire of Oares at least: 
but his gay slop hath no sooner kist the Cushions, but 
with a volley of new coynd oathes (newly brought from 
hell to the Bermoodoes by the Ghost of a Knight of the 
post) he hath neuer left Roaring, row, row, row, a pox 
on your row, (as if his punke should stay too long for 
his pestiferous person) and when his scuruinesse is 
landed where he pleases, hee hath told me I must waite 
on him, and 'he will returne to mee presently, and I shall 
carry him backe againe, and bee paid all together : then 
haue I attended fiue or six houres (like Ihon a Noakes) 
for nothing, for my cheating sharke hairing neither mony 
nor honesty, hath neuer come at mee, but tooke some 
other paire of stayres, and in the same fashion coozened 
another Water-man for his Boat-hire. 

We must, and doe with thankfulnesse confesse, that 
the Nobility, Gentry, and all others of the better sort of 
this Kingdome, haue honest, worthy and charitable con- 
siderations of our want of meanes, and multitude of 
men; for they doe know that house-rent, and victuals, 
are at foure times the rate which it was at when the 
Statute was made in Queene Maries Raygne for our 
fares, and as the price of all things is raised (except 
poore mens labors) so doe they in conscience very liber- 
ally rayse our f aires accordingly. 

And as before I haue written, our trade is so usefull 
and necessary, both for the Kings seruice and the Com- 

20 



mons commodity, that it is not to be (or cannot be 
wanted) and by how much the more a "Water-man is 
neere to his Maiesty, to the Queenes Maiesty, to the 
Princes Highnesse, to the Nobility, the Gentry, and the 
best of the Commonalty of this Kingdome, and some- 
times of forraine Xations, so much the more ought 
Water-men to behaue themselues honestly, and soberly 
in their calling : There are many better trades and quali- 
ties, that scarce the best of their Companies in all their 
Hues time do come so often and so neere the presence of 
Maiesty and Nobility as we doe. (I write not to dis- 
parrage any, nor with boasting to pufTe vp our selues) 
none comes neerer, except the Barber, and long and 
often he may come) or the Physician and Chirurgion, 
(which God grant they may bee euer needlesse:) but a 
Water-man many times hath his Soueraigne by the hand, 
to stay him in and out of the Barge, where there is not 
aboue halfe an inch betwixt life & death, the Barge being 
then the royal Court: & being but a dore betwixt the 
King & them, they are at that time Gentlemen of the 
priuy Chamber, or Yoemen of the Gard at least*. 

And thus much I am bold to insert for my selfe, and 
many more of my company that I know, that we neuer 
exacted mony wrongfully, or contended with any of the 
Kings Leidge people for more then they themselues 
would giue with any reason, or gaue any one abusiue or 
vnreuerend speeches if they would not go with vs: for 
we know that men are free to buy their cloath at what 
Drapers they please, or their staffes at which Mercers 
they will, what Taylor they list make their garments; 
and what Cooke they like may dresse their meat : and 
so forth, of all functions euery man is free to make his 

*Taylor's reverence for the nobility was genuine, and pathetic. 

21 



dboyse ; and so amongst Water-men, men may take whom 
they please, because they are bound to none, he that goes 
with me shall haue my labor, and I am in hope to haue 
his money, he that will not goe with me goes with an- 
other, and I haue the more ease the while, he doth me no 
wrong in not going with me, & I will do him no iniury 
for going from me ; this is my resolution, and a number 
more of my Company, and those that are otherwise 
minded, I wish with all my heart that God will he pleased 
to amend them, or else that the Hangman may haue 
authority to end them. 

But to return to the purpose (from which I haue too 
long digrest). The Players are men that I generally 
lone, and wish well vnto and to their quality, and I doe 
not know any of them but are my friends, and wish as 
much to me : and howsoeuer the matter falls out, whether 
they play or not play, I thanke God, I am able to line as 
well as another, either with them or without them: But 
my loue is such vnto them that whereas they do play but 
once a day, I could bee content they should play twice 
or thrice a day, so it were not in such places as doth 
vndoe so many thousands of poore people; for as it is, 
it were much better for vs that they plaid no where. And 
seeing so triuiall a cause as this would be scarce incom- 
modious to any, and more commodious to vs then the 
foure Tearmes in the yeere, seeing our necessities so 
great, and our reliefe harmelesse to any, seeing the vse 
of vs expedient, if occasions abroad or at home, and our 
vnablenesse to set our selues to sea, by reason of our 
want; our hope is that wee shall bee as much reckoned 
of as horses, for horses haue meat, drink, and lodging, 
though they be but seldome ridden, and many of them 
haue a warme footcloth, when thousand of seruiceable 



men are like to famish and starue through want and 
nakednesse. 

As concerning our endeauours to Eemoue the shelues 
and sands in the Thames (which are a great annoyance 
to the Eiuer, and hurt full to the City,) As his Maiesty 
hath commanded, and the Eight Honourable the Lord 
Maior & the rest of his worshipfull brethren, shall direct, 
we shall with all willingnesse doe our duties we doubt 
not both to the Kings Maiesties contentment, the good 
of the City, and the good report of our seines. 

Thus (because the truth shewes best being naked) I 
haue plainely set downe how far re I proceeded in my 
suite, how it was broken off; what thankes I haue for my 
paines. The necessity of the cause that made mee goe 
about it. The abuses I had because it tooke no effect, 
(which is the chief e cause why I wrote this Pamphlet to 
iustine my selfe.) Al these things I hope the Iudicious 
Vnderstander will indulge accordingly; alwaies esteem- 
ing mee a Loyall louer of my Countrey, and my Com- 
pany*." 

finis. 



*Works of John Taylor, the Water-Poet, Comprised in the Folio 
edition of 1030. Printed for the Spenser Society. Pp. 333-33S. 

23 



III. 

John Taylor tells us lie was "graced by the Queen 
of Bohemia," daughter of James I. There was a Joseph 
Taylor who in 1614 was the leading actor in the "Lady 
Elizabeth's Servants." In his "Historical Account of 
the English Stage" Malone says this Joseph Taylor was 
' i said by some to have painted the only original picture 
of Shakespeare now extant."* 

Two portraits of John Taylor, the Water-poet, are in 
the Oxford picture gallery. They are signed John Taylor 
pinx 1655. This was the poet's nephew, who, we think, 
presented them to the gallery two years after the death of 
the Water-poet. This nephew may have been a son of 
Joseph Taylor, the actor, and have had a kindred liking 
for art, and may have drawn the caricature of the Droe- 
shout head which so interested me many years ago that I 
had a facsimile made for my own amusement, and I now 
offer it as a curiosity, well worth the interest of other 
Shakespearians. As the print is unknown to many, I 
trust it will secure a^place on the book-shelves of the 
lovers of the poet. 

John Taylor was a faithful Royalist, and abhored 
the Roundheads from the bottom of his soul. He felt 
proud of having touched the King's hand, and history 
tells us he did good service for Elizaheth, James I. and 
Charles I. Thomas Hey wood, the dramatist, has left this 
couplet on public houses in that age : 

"The gentry to the King's Head, 
The nobles to the Croivn." 



*The Chandos portrait, which some conjecture was painted by 
Richard Burbage. Joseph Taylor left it in his will to William D'Ave- 
nant, and after D'Avenant's death it was bought by Betterlore the actor. 
It does not in the least resemble the bust at Stratford nor the Droeshout 
"Figure" in the First Folio. 

24 



When the garrison at Oxford surrendered 1 , Taylor 
left there and returned to London where he kept an inn 
called "The Crown/' situated in Phoenix Alley, West- 
minister. When Charles I. had been beheaded, the Water- 
poet hung a mourning crown over his door, which was 
so much resented by Cromwell's men, Taylor had to take 
it down. In its place he hung up his own picture and 
under it put these lines : 

"There's many a head stands for a Sign, 
Then, gentle reader, why not mine?" 

Wood tells us Taylor, while at Oxford, "wrote many 
Pasquelles" against the King's enemies, which "he was 
afraid to own or publish under his own name." Perhaps 
that is why his "Heads of all Fashions" came out anony- 
mously in 1642. "Vulgar Opinion" seems to !have been 
Taylor's pet aversion, upon which he never omits an 
opportunity to point the finger of scorn. The wise adage 
expressed by some Chinese sage, 

"In time the mulberry leaf becomes satin," 

reminds us of Taylor's intimation, In time the asses 
head (by Vulgar Opinion) may become chief cleric to a 
justice of the peace. He is referring to Fame, which 
he tells us "has many heads." In 1621 he had seen his 
friend, George Wither, sent to prison for the second time 
by some one in authority. Wither had been first impris- 
oned in 1614. 

The testimony of tradition ought not to take the place 
of facts and records, yet we know it is too often taken for 
truth. We know also that records themselves may be 
forged. But Taylor gives us the names of so many of 
his friends who were the contemporaries of Shakespeare 
that we may assume he met and conversed with that 

25 



great man. And this brings me to the whole pith of this 
work. For I have assumed and, in fact, absolutely 
believe Taylor knew Shakespeare personally. And when 
the first folio came out, in 1623, he was so disgusted with 
the Droeshout* picture of Shakespeare that he made a 
caricature of it. 

Ben Jonson himself begs the reader not to look on 
his picture, but his book. And Ben Jonson and Taylor 
were intimate friends. Opposite the title page of the 
folio portrait Ben Jonson has put these complimentary 
lines : 

TO THE READER. 

This figure, that thou here seest put, 

It was for gentle Shakespeare cut; 

Wherein the Graver had a strife 

With Nature to out-doo the life: 

O, could he but have drawn his wit 

As well in brasse as he hath hit 

His face; the print would then surpasse 

All that was ever writ in brasse. 

But, since he cannot, Reader, looke 

Not on his Picture but his Booke. 

B. J. 

I think it was Stevens who said of these lines: "It 
is lucky these commendations are not required to be 
delivered upon oath. " Boaden tells us the Droeshout 
engraving has frequently been called "an abominable 
libel upon humanity," and adds: "Vulgar art is fitted 



*Doinestic State Papers, James I. p. 377, 1G0S, where a grant to 
Martin Droeshout, painter of Brabant of Denization (Douquet), showing 
Droeshout was admitted to the privilege of an English citizen in 1608. 

20 



to satisfy vulgar taste. ... I am not saying that 
such abortions of art should be preferred — I am only 
showing that likeness may be found where nothing else 
exists for which the picture is desirable." But was the 
Droeshout a true likeness of Shakespeare? It does not 
in the least resemble the original statue at Stratford 
copied by Dugdale in 1656. Xor the monument that is 
there now. Xor does it resemble the Chan-do s portrait 
left by Joseph Taylor, the actor, nor the Jansen portrait 
painted in 1610, which is the most 'beautiful of all, and 
seems to me the only true portrait of our poet. It would 
take a folio volume to place before the reader all the 
deprecatory notices bestowed upon Droeshout \s engrav- 
ing. And why 

"The Graver had a strife 
With Nature to out-doo the life" 

is still a puzzle to most of us. In making this criticism 
upon the picture, Ben Jonson must have had in mind 
Shakespeare's lines from "Venus and Adonis," pub- 
lished in 1593 : 

"Look, when a painter would surpass the life, 
His art's with Nature's workmanship at strife.'' 

In other words, Droeshout was not what Puttenham 
called "a master craftsman in his art." And as Jonson 
gazed upon this figurehead for the first time, these words 
of Hamlet must have flashed across his brain: 

"It out-herods Herod!" 

But he was commissioned to praise the picture, and he 
did his best. He may even have played on the Dutch- 



man's name to aid him, by transposing the letters in it, 
as was so frequently done in his day among ihis friends 
who amused themselves with anagrams. 

Thus Droeshoiit, if we but read his name by transpos- 
ing the letters, really out-Herods* all other portrait 
engravers. From Ben Jonson's time to the present Droes- 
hout's portrait of Shakespeare has always been depre- 
ciated. Indeed, I never saw a face in the least resem- 
bling it until I viewed this caricature of Taylor's. And 
the only costume I have seen like the coat on the Droes- 
hout is that in the portrait of Sir Nathaniel Bacon, who 
was one of the finest amateur painters of his day. In 
this whole-length picture of himself at Gorhambury he 
wears a very similar coat. Note the trimming. 

At Redgrave Hall, in Suffolk, were two of his paint- 
ings, " Ceres with fruit and flowers," and "Hercules and 
the Hydra." At Grorhambury I saw a large oil painting 
by him, of a cook-maid with fowls, and was told that 
Lady Ann Bacon, the mother of Francis of Verulam, had 
been his model for this beautiful picture. At Culford, 
Suffolk, where he lived, are several of his works. His 
monument in the chancel in Culford, was erected by him- 
self in 1615, but has not the date of his death. It is a 
mural, having in the centre his bust, and on the side his 
palette and brushes. He died 1627. Another monument 
was erected to his memory at Stifkey, Norfolk. 

But let us now leave the figurehead of the First Folio 
and come to the Water-poet's "Heads of all Fashions," 
wherein I have found what seems to me a caricature of 
the Droeshout head of Shakespeare. 

See fac simile of this title page on p. 30. 



*D-R-0-E-S-H-0-U-T==Oiit-HERODS. 

28 




SIR NATHANIEL BACON. K. B. 

From an Original at Gorhambnry. 
29 



Heads of all Fashions. 



Being, 
A Plaine, Defection or Definition of diverfe, 

and fundry forts j)f heads, Butting, Jetting, or pointing 

|at vulgar opinion. 

.And Allegorically fhewing the'Diverfities of Religion in 
thefe diftempered times. 

Now very lately written," fince Calves-Heads~came in Seafon. 



a a^ri^a^J^-nWihawani ! ■ !■■ i '«it >.^ g g 




..— .vm.m,wm ■» ,±-^*lm gggg <■«-— ,a»g.u*A£g - „jf ..tfl 



ai-TrT i W'W 'i' 



London Printed for Iohn Morgan, to be fold in the Old-baily. 1642. 

30 



THE CONTENTS 



1. 


A Round-head both at randome and couched. 


2. 


A square head. 


15. 


A Weak head. 


3. 


A solid head. 


16. 


A Thicke head. 


4. 


An empty head. 


17. 


A Thine head. 


5. 


An Hollow Head. 


18. 


A Plaine head. 


6. 


A full head. 


19. 


A Forked head. 


7. 


A deepe head. 


20. 


A Smoothe head. 


8. 


A Greate head. 


21. 


A Rugged head. 


9. 


A Little head. 


22. 


A Logger head. 


10. 


A long head. 


23. 


An Narrow head. 


11. 


A Short head. 


24. 


A Broad head. 


12. 


A Tall head. 


25. 


A Block head. 


13. 


A Flat head. 


26. 


A Light head. 


14. 


A Strong head. 






27. 


A Heavy head with 


some 


other whole and h 


heads." 









And the extracts here given are enough for the reader, 
I imagine : 



TO THE GENTLE READER. 

Diftracted fame throughout the world fo fpreads, 

That monfter-like, fhe now hath many heads, 

A man can go to no place, but fhall heare 

Things that may make him hope, and make him feare; 

But I doe hope, and hope I will doe ftill, 

All fhall be well in fpite of little Will, 

Or any of his Crew, farre off or neare, 

Whofe practices doe every day appeare 

Still more and more, the Lord fees how they deale, 

And doth their Plots and Projects all reveale; 

Each City and each Towne, yea every village, 

Can fill us now with newes, we need not pillage. 



By this meanes fame hath got a monfters head, 
Yea many heads, whereof I found a few, 
And here have laid them open to thy view, 
Perufe them all, in earneft or in jeft, 
And tell me which amongft them is the beft. 
If Round-head fhould he found the beft to be, 
Farewell all other heads, Round-head for me. 
But gentle Reader, give me thy good word, 
And then I care not what Round-heads afford. 

Thine without hypocrfie. J. M. 

* * * 

3. A Solid4iead is one whofe every part, 
Is furnifhed with nature and with Art, 
Hath all the faire endowments can be given 
By the aufpicious Stars or powers of Heaven: 
If this head be well guarded with Gods grace, 
Tis fit for Church or State, or any place. 

* * * 

8. A Great-head may containe a world of wit, 
For there is roome enough to harbour it, 
Some mighty-headed 1 pleaders I have knowne, 
And yet their Great-heads little Law have fhowne : 
But what talke I of heads? it is the braine 
Enables them their cafes to explaine. 

* =* # 

10. A Long-lhead cannot weare a little cap, 
The forehead is fo diftant from the nap, 
This head hath many whimfies in the Braine, 
Yet wonders much at Rome, at France, and Spaine: 
Thefe many plots have wrought againft our Land, 
But this Long-lhead hopes they fhall nere long ftand. 



39 



12. A Tall-head like a Pyramide or Steeple, 
Ore tops the common fort of vulgar people, 
Tis often on a Pimps broad fhoulders placed, 
And thinks it felfe with bufhy locks much graced. 
This head is mounted up fo in the Aire, 

That there can nothing grow (I feare) but haire. 

# * # 

14. A Strong-head though it be not made of brafTe, 
Remembreth every thing that comes to paffe 
Within the reach of 's eye, his eare or knowledge, 
His Skull for skill, and ftrength may be a colledge : 
If he had beene a Fencer by his fate 
He would have fcorn'd to feare a broken pate. 

18. A Plaine-head is a plaine well-meaning head, 
Who as he thinkes no harme, no hurt doth dread, 
So quickly may be gul'd, for honeft men 
Are often cheated every now and then : 
This head is often free unto its friend, 
Yet many times tis cozen 'd in tlhe end. 

W TV" 

The Conclufion. 
A world of heads more I could name to you, 

Jf, jU. Jf. 

There also is a Sheeps head and an AfTes, 
But this laft head moft of the reft furpafTes, 
For this in time by friends and loves increafe, 
May be chief e Clarke t'a Juftice of Peace. 
But ftay rafh Mufe, why doft thou fo farre flie, 
Thou muft not meddle with Authoritie. 

FINIS. 

While there are only seventeen heads shown in Tay- 
lor's cut, there are twenty-seven described by him in the 

33 



Tract. No. 12, the "Tall Head," forms the frontispiece 
to this work. The reader will see I have borrowed the 
coat of the Droeshout Figure and placed the Caricature 
Head upon it. 

Let me end with this couplet of the good Water-Poet : 

"There's many a head stands for a sign, 
Then gentle reader, why not mine ? ' ' 




34 



16 19U 







One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



